Tunisia+(MR+&+JS)

**__ A look at Tunisia __**
**__ Demographics: __** Over 67% of the population is between 15 to 65 years old. The median age in Tunisia is 30. Ethnic groups consist of 97% Arabic, 1.5% European, 1.5% Jewish and other groups. 96% of the country is Muslim/ Islamic, 2% are Christian, and 2% are Jewish or other. **__ Geography: __** Located in northern Africa, between Libya and Algeria. The northern areas of Tunisia have mountains. The center consists of dry, heated plains; a desert in the southern area with the Sahara. 18% of the land is plough able, 12% is permanent crops, and 70% is in other use. There is an estimated 4,000 square kilometers of irrigated land. **__ Economic Resources: __** Imports include clothing, plants, chemicals, hydrocarbons, and food. Tunisia’s most important trading partners are France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. Exports include mechanical goods, agricultural products, hydrocarbons, chemicals and clothing. . Tunisia’s trading partners are France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Libya, and Belgium. France is the most important trading partner because it makes up 26% of Tunisia’s imports, and 31% of Tunisia’s exports. 50% of Tunisians works as labor, 20% work in industry, 30% agriculture, and 15% are unemployed.  In 2002 Tunisia had a GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of $USD67 billion, with an estimated growth rate of 5%. Compared to the 2010 estimated GDP of the U.S of $ 14.72 trillion. Tunisia is a republican government. Anyone 18 years old and older can vote. Elections are held every five years.

**__ Cited Sources: __** [] [] []

=__**Timeline**__= -900 B.C, Tunisia begins with the arrival of Phoenicians

-1400's, Spanish Muslims and Jews migrated to Tunisia

- In 1881, France took over Tunisia

- In 1956, the French leave Tunisia, bringing peace.

- in 1974 President Bourguiba was officially declared president until he lives, for Tunisia, since the citizens were so happy with him.

-In 1987<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">President Bourguiba was taken down after <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Israel launched an Attack against the PLO ( <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Palestine Liberation Organization <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">) headquarters near Tunisia, and the Tunisia army was not able to defend. The prime minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali took over.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">In January 14th, 2011, <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Ben Ali was forced to step down as president, so he fleed out of the country.

__**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Legitimacy of Government **__

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The government was not really legit, which lead to the powerful revolt of the Tunisian people. The armed forces were arresting some protestors. There were not enough jobs provided, although they did have more jobs than they used to. Many workers such as people who work at banks were fired. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Common defense: not really fulfilled, there were gangs walking around the streets causing drama. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Economic decisions: the government makes economic decisions which bring money to the country, for examples, trades and exports. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Resolve social conflict: no, unless things got too serious, then the military would have to step in. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Public services: yes public services are provided. They have good education, and health services are provided in the larger towns of Tunisia. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Protection of rights: Tunisians did not have protection of rights which is why they went on a revolt

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In order best to worst: <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">1. Economic decisions <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Public services <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Common defense <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">4. Resolve social conflict <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">5. Protection of rights.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">BBC. " BBC News - Timeline: Tunisia." //BBC News - Home//. 1 Mar. 2011. Web. 05 Apr. 2011. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/2506465.stm>.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">Ryan, Yasmine. "How Tunisia's Revolution Began - Features - Al Jazeera English." //AJE - Al Jazeera English//. 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 05 Apr. 2011. <http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/01/2011126121815985483.html#>.

"Tunisia." //CultureGrams Kids Edition//. ProQuest, 2011. Web. 5 Apr 2011. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">_

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> ** //  Tunisian Revolution 2011 – Part IV   // ** Hundreds of young protestors revolted against President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Many wear tear gassed by police. Most demonstrators were young, around age 20. They revolted because they were unsatisfied with the high unemployment, food inflation, corruption, a lack of freedom of speech and other political freedom and poor living conditions. Protestors assembled outside government buildings to remove their current President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from office. The people were successful in overthrowing their leader; he fled to Saudi Arabia and then announced he was stepping down as President of Tunisia. The government responded to the protests with tear gas and firing into the crowds, but eventually got orders to stand down when the President removed himself from office. However, some violence in the Tunisian streets is still occurring. The government is now attempting to resolve the issues of high unemployment, food inflation, and corruption, a lack of freedom of speech and other political freedom, and poor living conditions. <span style="height: 243.4pt; margin-left: 355.5pt; margin-top: 12.4pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 141.6pt; z-index: -2;">  <span style="height: 154.25pt; margin-left: -53.4pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 231.6pt; z-index: -3;"> To view news summaries of the Tunisia revolution, click a link below: [] [] [] <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">       <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> ** //  Sources:   // **

[|http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/for-the-war-before-he-was-against-it/73387/#] [] [] , [] [] <span style="height: 355pt; margin-left: -24.5pt; margin-top: 79.9pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 521.95pt; z-index: -1;"> []